Oregon eCycles Now as of 1/1/09 - Yay- sortof:
In case you haven't heard, we passed a new law in Oregon that requires various recycling sites to accept computers, monitors and TVs for free now to help keep e-waste out of our landfills. (See www.oregonecycles.org for details). Technically the costs are covered by manufacturers. And apparently most Goodwill stores are participating in this, which is easy to remember and sounds pretty cool, right. Well, it is, except that it only covers televisions, laptops and pc bodies and monitors. It does NOT cover any other pc items, including mice, keyboards, speakers, etc., so check with each location before bringing these, or just take all computers and their related items to Free Geek who can and does take all the peripherals still anyway. (And yes, they now take TV's too per the above). I would kindly ask on behalf of my buddies at the Geek that you graciously consider still donating a processing fee to help cover their costs - they're being hit by this recession too. (We've already lost the hard working Bear eCycling center last December, run by Free Geek's founder, Oso Martin). But hopefully we'll keep a few of the soon to be defunct or unwanted analog TV's out of the landfill as the new digital conversion occurs - apparently in June now. (It was scheduled for Feb 17th, but Congress pushed it back due to lack of public prep). Far West Fibers also takes these items. (See below for more details on the above named outlets).
Misc Small Items Recycling
In other news, I've been trying to research just what to do with those new style of lids that come on TreeTop (and other brands) applesauce jars since late 2008. They are almost equal parts rigid plastic and metal. (There's a rigid plastic outer ring that screws onto the bottle, and the center is a metal disk). They really should be separated into their respective components and recycled accordingly, but if you are desperate or lazy, I would say toss them in the appropriate metals bin, as the plastic can be burned off, vs getting metal out of a plastic recycling process. I'm going to try to ask Far West about these as well as all other small metal caps and lids, since seeing an article by Shelby Wood in the Oregonian recently mentioned their size being a handling problem. (I'd been wondering the same myself). She was suggesting tucking such things inside other larger cans. But my concern here is mixing your metal types - e.g., an aluminum screw off cap from a bottle of wine being tucked in a tin can. (They really don't go together).
Sorry I don't have more definitive answers than this. But, the good news is, apparently Far West is still managing to store and or succesfully process and recycle everything they have been taking before, despite the market downturn, as I've seen absolutely no change in the bins or their labels since dropping stuff off in the new year. So, continue to operate accordingly. And, if ever in doubt, call Metro at 503-234-3000 or check www.metro-rergion.org to be sure:). And, I've once again managed to include my "sources" info at the bottom of this post as originally promised - yay:). (I've only missed on one post).
The latest on
Recycling Outlets in Portland
02/14/09
(Per the good people at Metro and Far West Fibers, who know what's up!)
ALL recycling systems require bottles, tubs and cans to be rinsed, empty, with no lids attached. (Lids can be taken separately to Far West public depots below). NO PLASTIC BAGS IN CURBSIDE/APARTMENT RECYCLING AT ALL . (Do not drop off bags of bottles or other objects in any recycling system. The bags gum up the works and cause loads to be tossed. Nor leave plastic bags or film mixed in, same problem). And, NO CORN BASED PLASTICS anywhere either (#7 PLA). Other #7's are okay, just not PLA or "made from corn". #7 just means "misc", that is not a 1-6. (You can take stretchy clean plastic bags and related film to your local grocery store, or to the Far West Fibers depots below).
In general our Portland Metro curbside/apartment recycling is rather limited due to handling issues. Tho Far West Fibers takes much more than the curbside system allows - you just have to drop it off at their depots yourself. That's why I've researched and listed the other great outlets for recycling many more items than curbside can take. I.e, if in doubt, leave it out of your curbside system, and take it to one of the many facilities listed below (e.g. Far West Fibers, Portland Recycling, Total Reclaim, etc.) I've tried to make it as simple as possible.
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Current Portland 2 bin Curbside/apartment Recycling CAN take:
(NO LIDS ON ANY CONTAINERS PLEASE, MUST ALL BE EMPTY AND CLEAN)
A) In separate glass bin only:
Only glass bottles and jars:must keep in separate bin from all other recyclables. Empty, clean, no lids. Also, no light bulbs, lamps, etc. Just clean empty unbroken jars and bottles from the kitchen. (Take fluorescent and high intensity flood light bulbs to Metro hazardous waste recycling centers listed below. Normal light bulbs can apparently go to Total Reclaim in NE Portland according to Metro Oct 29, 2008. Call first to be sure).
B) In 2nd co-mingled rollout recycling bins you can combine:
Plastic bottles and tubs (no lids): bottles with a screw neck top, empty (clean) margarine or yogurt type tubs (No’s 1, 2 and 5 only). NO clamshell food containers (#6). AND NO OTHER PLASTICS WHATSOEVER. (E.g. toys, hangers, lids). All bottles and tubs must be clean, empty, NO LIDS. NO BAGS. (See below for where to take lids and other plastics). You can recycle empty laundry detergent bottles here.
Paper: Newspaper, magazines, and office paper and junk mail. (Envelopes with glassine windows are okay). NO NAPKINS OR TISSUES (this belongs in garbage, or compost). No wax paper. Please enclose shredded paper in a paper bag for ease of handling at facilities. (This is the only time you may contain something in any bag, and it must be paper). No foil-lined paper. (e.g. metallic gift wrap).Staples okay. No paper clips. No food-contaminated or waxed containers either. (E.g. no frozen food boxes, or paper coffee cups with waxy insides. These can be composted under proper conditions but are too contaminated for normal paper recycling), else garbage.
Steel and tin cans: (e.g. soup cans) clean, no labels, flatten as able, and tuck clean lids inside for safety. (I find squishing the top end of the cans with rounded bottoms to help in removing the label, and saving a little space). Clean aluminum foil also okay. (Don't tuck small aluminum objects inside steel/tin cans tho, thanks:).
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ALL OTHER RECYCLING:
Call Metro at 503-234-3000 or see www.metro-region.org to keep up on latest recycling outlets for MANY other items including STYROFOAM, ELECTRONICS, batteries and hazardous wastes (old paint, cleaners, fluorescent light bulbs)..
Far West Fibers (link below) takes virtually everything except styrofoam and hazardous wastes, and are one of the cheapest and easiest to get to. (Depot at SE 17th and Holgate). This includes ALL RIGID PLASTICS except styrofoam and now PLA #7 (corn-based plastics). (Other #7's okay). I.e, all the plastic lids, toys, hangers, clean clamshell food containers, other tubs, etc. that the curbside/apartment system does not take (except PLA:). Must be clean and empty still. $2+.
Styorfoam: Total Reclaim on NE 60th and Columbia - $5/car or truck load. Must be clean. Can take clean styro meat packaging trays (even colored ones). www.totalreclaim.com
Computers and all pc related items (printers, scanners, mice, keyboards): Free Geek www.freegeek.org (SE 10th and Mill, just south of Hawthorne). Reasonable fees apply, although technically pc bodies and monitors can now be donated for free per new Oregon eCycles law starting January 1, 2009. (Free Geek could still use your donations. Every dollar helps).
Computer bodies, monitors and Televisions only: Can now be dropped off for free at most Goodwill donations stations apparently (along with some other recyclers), per this new Oregon eCycles law. But not their peripherals. That is, no mice, keyboards, printers, cables, etc. Just the computer and laptop bodies and monitors and television sets. You can take up to 7 for free. A fee charged for more. Some recyclers may still request a donation or fee to defray their continued costs in processing more than 7, or for additional separate items. See www.oregonecycles.org for more on this per the new law in effect January 1, 2009.
Links to additional recycling outlets and info:
www.metro-region.org (see “Find a Recycler” under Garbage and Recycling links on left side)
www.oregonecycles.org for info on the new e-Cycling law in effect 1/1/09 to keep e-waste out of landfills. (So far just covers pc's, monitors and tv's).
www.farwestfibers.com (take all rigid plastics besides styrofoam, plus much more including books, DVD's and crayons. Separate curbside "quality" recycling from all else however for handling reasons.)
www.portlandrecyclingcenters.com (takes same as Far West Fibers, tho best to take smaller plastic items (e.g. bottle tops/lids) that curbside doesn't currently take to the SE Far West Fibers depot to put in their bin allotted for same, vs the co-mingled baler at the N Portland recycling center. And, they're probably going to shut down their NW and Lake Oswego sites soon, when Far West takes them over, and may use them for storage vs drop off. Check website first)
www.enviromom.com (has updates on many ways to reduce, reuse, recycle in Portland)
www.masterrecycler.org (has updates on periodic local Plastics Roundups in Portland area that take all but styro) 2/14/09 - these may be on hold just now due to recession. Check first.
www.totalreclaim.com (takes styrofoam in NE Portland - yay:) $5/load
www.buyworms.com for a good local source of red worms for vermicomposting
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